Renting an Apartment or Buying a House

Welcome to ApartmentReview.net, a guide to finding your next home,
whether it's renting an apartment or buying a house. Either choice requires a
lot of work and planning before you start loading the moving van.

You can choose a topic from the menu on the left or just read on for a
description of each section. You can never do too much research, so
be sure to check out these
real estate books when you're done.

Location, Location, Location!

You've probably heard that the three L's of real estate are location,
location, location. Choosing the right location is an important part of the moving
process, whether you're renting an apartment or buying a house. If you're
happy where you're at, that makes the moving process much easier.
Otherwise, now might be the right time to consider a new area.

Research the Area

Choosing a location is more than just picking the city and state you
want to call home. Take some time and research the neighborhood. Crime rate,
climate and schools are just a few other things to consider. Is there a beach nearby?
How about a mall? Do you have to drive 20 miles to buy groceries?

Renting vs. Buying

Renting and buying both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Price alone can be a deciding factor for some.
Maintenance, property taxes and insurance are just a few more things that come into play.

Apartments vs. Houses

If you choose to buy, instead of rent, the decision is pretty much made
for you. If you decide to rent, you'll still have to between between an
apartment or a house. Both have their advantages, so it's really just a
matter of personal preference. If you have any large animals, or play a
loud instrument, it's doubtful that renting an apartment be an option.

Apartment Features

Certain things stand out as soon as you set foot on the property, like nice
buildings, well-maintained landscape, friendly office staff and great parking. How
about the features that don't stand out? Does the apartment come with a washer
and dryer? If not, is there at least space for them with a washer & dryer hookup,
or do you have to share a laundry room?

Things to Watch Out For

It's easy to get distracted with some of the finer points of a
property and look right past what will later become problems. Many would
consider living 5 minutes from the airport extremely convenient. Others
might disagree because their windows rattle every time a plane takes off and
roars over their home. There are many things like this to think about before
committing yourself to a lease or contract.